Best Programming games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated programming games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free programming games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Automachef
Welcome to Automachef, a resource management puzzler where you design kitchens, program machinery and watch your genius come to life! It’s time to engineer tomorrow’s kitchen, today!
异常 | Exception
Exception is a game about AI programming. During the game, the player assists the units to defeat their enemies in the virtual world. However, the player needs to control the units by programming instead of controlling them directly.
GLADIABOTS - AI Combat Arena
Assemble your robot squad, construct their AI and send them in the battle arena to see your strategy play out. Iterate, improve and repeat until you outsmart all your opponents and friends online.
Drunken Wrestlers 2
Drunken Wrestlers 2 is a funny physics-based multiplayer fighting game. Features include character customization and a powerful mod editor integrated with Steam Workshop.
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!
I hate this game
I hate this game is a logic game, where gameplay changes every level. Solve crazy puzzles and use forgotten functions of your PC! Be attentive, interact with everything that you see on the screen.
while True: learn()
You’re a machine learning specialist who makes neural networks but your cat seems to be better at it. Now you must solve puzzles to build a cat-to-human translation system (who knows what else this cat is capable of!). Earn a fortune, buy kickass cat outfits, learn how machine learning really works!
7 Billion Humans
Automate swarms of office workers to solve puzzles inside your very own parallel computer made of people. A thrilling followup to the award winning Human Resource Machine. Now with more humans!
Planetoid Pioneers
Explore deep circular worlds in this Physicsvania with couch Co-Op combat, crafting, and ridiculous physics fails! Also bring your own game ideas to life with the powerful engine and integrated game development tools. Each Planetoid is a whole separate game mode that you can fully edit and easily share!
Opus Magnum
Opus Magnum is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem, Infinifactory, and SHENZHEN I/O. Design and build machines that assemble potions, poisons, and more using the alchemical engineer’s most advanced tool: the transmutation engine!
Discord Bot Maker
Discord Bot Maker is a powerful bot development tool for the #1 text and voice chat service for gamers: Discord. With this tool, you and your teammates can take your social experience to the next level!
Open Sorcery
BEL/S is an Elemental Firewall: a fire elemental bound with C++ code to protect a network of people and places. She can learn things, develop relationships, and even gain sapience. Or she can burn everything with fire. It's up to you.
Mainlining
After MI7 has been hacked, your primary goal is to bring a cyber-criminal network to justice. Played entirely from your computer's desktop, Mainlining is a thrilling point and click hacking adventure that features a gripping narrative which will have you hooked from the very first case.
SHENZHEN I/O
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.
Screeps: World
Screeps: World is an open source MMO RTS sandbox game for programming enthusiasts, wherein the core mechanic is programming your units AI. You control your colony by writing JavaScript which operates 24/7 in the single persistent open world filled by other players on par with you.
hackmud
hackmud is a text-based multiplayer hacking simulator for keyboard-compatible personal home computers. Crack protected systems and solve puzzles as you explore the abandoned internet of the future. Write scripts to protect your winnings and trick other players. Lose everything. Get it back.
Mad Games Tycoon
Form your own game studio set in the early 1980s in a small garage. Develop your own game ideas, create a team and develop megahit video games. Research new technologies, train your staff and upgrade your office space, going from a lowly garage to a huge building. Expand your business and dominate the world market for video games!
Quadrilateral Cowboy
When you have a top-of-the-line hacking deck armed with a 56.6k modem and a staggering 256k RAM, it means just one thing: you answer only to the highest bidder.
Glitchspace
Glitchspace is about reprogramming the game to solve puzzles. Trapped in an abstract cyberspace world, your way forward uses visual programming to edit environmental geometry, whilst unlocking key programming concepts along the way.
Godot Engine
Godot Engine is a feature-packed, cross-platform game engine to create 2D and 3D games from a unified interface. It provides a comprehensive set of common tools, so that you can focus on making games without having to reinvent the wheel.Most played programming games on Steam
Take a look at the top programming games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 30th 2025.
1. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG. Bitburner is a programming, idler and automation game developed by Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame and over 250 github contributors and published by Fulcrum Games. Released on December 10th 2021 has received 6,560 reviews of which 6,241 were positive and 319 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played programming game, thanks to its 508 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.2
6,241
319
508
players
2. Turing Complete
Learn CPU architecture with puzzles Turing Complete is a programming, logic and education game developed and published by LevelHead. Released on October 02nd 2021 has received 3,871 reviews of which 3,728 were positive and 143 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played programming games.
9.3
3,728
143
87
players
3. Juno: New Origins
Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode. Juno: New Origins is a building, science and space sim game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on January 26th 2023 has received 3,082 reviews of which 2,776 were positive and 306 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played programming games.
8.7
2,776
306
59
players
4. Autonauts
In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment. Autonauts is a simulation, programming and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 4,758 reviews of which 4,258 were positive and 500 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played programming games.
8.6
4,258
500
59
players
5. Discord Bot Maker
Discord Bot Maker is a powerful bot development tool for the #1 text and voice chat service for gamers: Discord. With this tool, you and your teammates can take your social experience to the next level! Discord Bot Maker is a utilities, web publishing and software game developed and published by Robert Borghese. Released on August 21st 2017 has received 2,481 reviews of which 2,166 were positive and 315 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played programming games.
8.4
2,166
315
54
players
6. Desynced
Desynced is a sci-fi strategy game with fully customizable units and behaviors. Gather, build, research, and explore the unknown. Alone or with friends, unveil the mystery of an AI on the edge of self-awareness and uncover the hidden truth in this blend of strategy, automation, and exploration. Desynced is a strategy, automation and programming game developed by Stage Games Inc. and published by Forklift Interactive. Released on August 15th 2023 has received 1,361 reviews of which 1,130 were positive and 231 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played programming games.
7.9
1,130
231
52
players
7. Grey Hack
Grey Hack is a massively multiplayer hacking simulator game. You're a hacker with full freedom to act as you wish on a vast network of procedurally generated computers. Grey Hack is a hacking, simulation and programming game developed and published by Loading Home. Released on December 14th 2017 has received 1,565 reviews of which 1,413 were positive and 152 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played programming games.
8.6
1,413
152
46
players
8. The Farmer Was Replaced
Program and optimize a drone to automate a farm and watch it do the work for you. Collect resources to unlock better technology and become the most efficient farmer in the world. Improve your problem solving and coding skills. The Farmer Was Replaced is a programming, idler and automation game developed and published by Timon Herzog. Released on February 10th 2023 has received 1,503 reviews of which 1,458 were positive and 45 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played programming games.
9.2
1,458
45
36
players
9. Screeps: World
Screeps: World is an open source MMO RTS sandbox game for programming enthusiasts, wherein the core mechanic is programming your units AI. You control your colony by writing JavaScript which operates 24/7 in the single persistent open world filled by other players on par with you. Screeps: World is a programming, strategy and massively multiplayer game developed and published by Screeps and LLC. Released on November 16th 2016 has received 1,976 reviews of which 1,721 were positive and 255 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played programming games.
8.3
1,721
255
32
players
10. SHENZHEN I/O
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM. SHENZHEN I/O is a programming, automation and puzzle game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on November 17th 2016 has received 4,137 reviews of which 3,934 were positive and 203 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played programming games.
9.1
3,934
203
30
players
Best deals on programming games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of programming games available on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted programming games.
1. Juno: New Origins
Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode. Juno: New Origins is a building, science and space sim game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on January 26th 2023 has received 3,082 reviews of which 2,776 were positive and 306 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Featuring a massive 93% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for programming category.
8.7
2,776
306
-93%
18.43€
1.29€
2. Autonauts
In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment. Autonauts is a simulation, programming and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 4,758 reviews of which 4,258 were positive and 500 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 90% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in programming games.
8.6
4,258
500
-90%
20.60€
2.06€
3. 7 Billion Humans
Automate swarms of office workers to solve puzzles inside your very own parallel computer made of people. A thrilling followup to the award winning Human Resource Machine. Now with more humans! 7 Billion Humans is a programming, puzzle and indie game developed and published by Tomorrow Corporation. Released on August 23rd 2018 has received 1,933 reviews of which 1,810 were positive and 123 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 73% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in programming games.
8.9
1,810
123
-73%
14.74€
3.98€
4. SHENZHEN I/O
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM. SHENZHEN I/O is a programming, automation and puzzle game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on November 17th 2016 has received 4,137 reviews of which 3,934 were positive and 203 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 58% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for programming games.
9.1
3,934
203
-58%
14.69€
6.17€
5. SpaceChem
Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products! SpaceChem is a puzzle, difficult and programming game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on March 02nd 2011 has received 4,984 reviews of which 4,597 were positive and 387 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a 42% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for programming games.
8.9
4,597
387
-42%
9.67€
5.61€
6. Desynced
Desynced is a sci-fi strategy game with fully customizable units and behaviors. Gather, build, research, and explore the unknown. Alone or with friends, unveil the mystery of an AI on the edge of self-awareness and uncover the hidden truth in this blend of strategy, automation, and exploration. Desynced is a strategy, automation and programming game developed by Stage Games Inc. and published by Forklift Interactive. Released on August 15th 2023 has received 1,361 reviews of which 1,130 were positive and 231 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a 32% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for programming games.
7.9
1,130
231
-32%
29.01€
19.73€
Free programming games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play programming games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play programming games.
1. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG. Bitburner is a programming, idler and automation game developed by Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame and over 250 github contributors and published by Fulcrum Games. Released on December 10th 2021 has received 6,560 reviews of which 6,241 were positive and 319 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 508 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free programming games on Steam.
9.2
6,241
319
508
players
2. Space Travel Idle
If you ever dreamed of exploring space at a relaxed pace, here's a journey designed for you. Space Travel Idle is a early access, card battler and programming game developed by Ayatsuji_San and published by Spaceive. Released on September 22nd 2020 has received 527 reviews of which 334 were positive and 193 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played free programming games on Steam.
6.1
334
193
25
players
3. Glitchspace
Glitchspace is about reprogramming the game to solve puzzles. Trapped in an abstract cyberspace world, your way forward uses visual programming to edit environmental geometry, whilst unlocking key programming concepts along the way. Glitchspace is a programming, indie and puzzle game developed and published by Space Budgie. Released on May 05th 2016 has received 366 reviews of which 267 were positive and 99 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free programming games on Steam.
6.9
267
99